Music in the theater1994
essays on Verdi and other composers
by Pierluigi Petrobelli
Well known for having generated new interest in Verdi as a subtle and elaborate musical thinker, Pierluigi Petrobelli offers here lively, penetrating explanations of how music in the theater works: Why is it that only a few operas constitute the standard repertory of all opera houses throughout the world, to the constant delight of their audiences? What makes these operas as effective today as they were at the time of their creation? Is there a governing principle in their organization and structure?
In this collection of essays, most of which appear in English for the first time, Petrobelli answers these questions by presenting historical facts and analyzing specific operas, mainly by Verdi, in terms of musical organization and dramaturgical conventions.
From the exploration of clearly...